Washington (CNN) - Death threats have been made against freshman Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), his wife and children, according to a statement by his chief of staff Karl Ahlgren.

Ahlgren said law enforcement authorities consider the threats to be a "serious matter due to the content and nature of the threatening letters which were received."Follow @diruggiero
Precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of Mullin's wife and children, Ahlgren added. He did not specify the nature of the threats, or the potential motivation behind them.

U.S. Capitol Police Public Information Officer Shennell Antrobus added that his department was looking "with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local law enforcement, into this matter."

Elected in November with 57% of the vote, Mullin represents Oklahoma's 2nd Congressional district, which includes a wide swath of the state's eastern section. His was sworn into office January 3, and has cast a few votes thus far, including voting "no" on emergency funding for states affected by Superstorm Sandy.

soundoff(9 Responses)

dreamer96

Fox News had to shutdown their comment section, they were flooded with requests from the police for the real email addresses of people making threats in the comment section for their stories...Politics has become so polarized the last few years that the public has be driven into foaming nutcase extremist that lose control and do real damage...they are being created by all the political hate and fear talk....Hope we can some much needed compromises to our many problems before it gets worse.. Sad really because it is all a self inflected wound....

January 20, 2013 09:33 am at 9:33 am |

Randy, San Francisco

Time to back off and cool the heated partisan rhetoric. Stop listening to political talk show entertainers from both sides of the political spectrum. They are entertainers who laugh all the way to the bank with your money by being provacateurs who inflame heated passions. America should not be a third world banana republic plagued wtih violence before and after elections.

January 20, 2013 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

GonzoinHouston

Well, that didn't take long. Sworn in to death threats in a month? I know the SS keeps the details out of the news, but does anyone have any idea why he was threatened? Has he taken any outrageous positions? Of course, crazy people don't need a reason.

January 20, 2013 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Jeff

@ Rick
Dems took the presidency, gained seats in the Senate (controlled by Dems already), and added nine more seats in the House. I would hardly call that losing especially when Republicans originally thought to gain control of both chambers. I am independent myself and would vote republican more if that party hadn't lost their mind on social issues and attacking science.

January 20, 2013 10:06 am at 10:06 am |

maf

@ Rick, seriously??? You really add to the conversation!!
How about some insightful, helpful comments??
It appears that you are still stinging from the November results. . .

This current partisanship situation is highly volatile and people seem to have a very short fuse. President Obama has another four years to lead the way to a better reality and we all (not just the politicians) need to be able to find our way through. Understanding, patience and maybe a little compromise will go a long way.

January 20, 2013 10:08 am at 10:08 am |

ST

This goes to show how uncivilised people still are. Differing in the way of thinking politically, doesn't warrant anyone to take life of the other. I do assume those who are threatening others, are doing so because they are well equipped with guns which they obtained in the name of "second amendment".

January 20, 2013 10:19 am at 10:19 am |

mike mathwig

Fox news posts shut down? THAT makes perfect sense to me. It's a jerry springer show and the people who like it have been on his set,or auditioned for it, many times. All these nuts are fun to watch. It's a riot of laughs to watch this american sit-com on line each day. Reality T V for REAL, HA!

January 20, 2013 10:30 am at 10:30 am |

Thomas

Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), was sworn into office January 3, and has cast a few votes thus far, including voting "no" on emergency funding for states affected by Superstorm Sandy.

Hey Mullin , next time Oklahoma is hit by a bad drought or a few tornados . Look in the mirror before you ask the Feds for help.

See what happens when you cross some people when they've just have had enough,rebellion and threats..You'll see more of the same with other reps if things aren't changed by republicans in both houses,mark my words its not going to be easy for them till midterms if they make it that far!!!